Where in the world is Lani?

I came here to see the `real`Madrid and not just the lonely planet version. The first thing I discovered was that in Madrid you have a few options for seeing the city:

1. Take the gringo tourist bus for 15 euros which takes a loop of the city, but makes each tour member a target for theives as the bus is bright orange and very conspicuous!

2. Catch the very efficient metro service around (1 euro per trip), but miss the above ground sights on the way to your destination....

3. Strap on your walking shoes and hit the pavement to discover how much walking is humanly possible in one day!

So, armed with a city map, a list of interesting things to see and do & as much spanish as I could remember from all those weeks ago when I learned in Argentina - today I hit the streets to see what Madrid has to offer.

I saw so many beautiful places, full of history and with loads of character its hard to remember them all...amongst the highlights were some beautiful plazas with statue monuments to the great Spanish leaders; amazing churches and cathedrals; the royal palace and surrounding parks; and old cobblestone streets that seemed untouched for a few hundred years!

Other highlights of wandering the city of Madrid included.....

• An impromptu performance by street performers in the Plaza Mayor which was hilarious and very entertaining

• Enjoying a traditional spanish paella and sangria for lunch.....

• Shopping for Real Madrid merchandise at any one of a million gringo stores

• Checking out the beautiful styles of the Madrid dwellers - so european and so funky - I love it!!!!

So, at the end of the day, after a dinner of tapas and some red wine I am starting to feel like I have seen some of the real Madrid. Beautiful. Busy. Expensive.

But definitely worth it!